'We treated him badly': principal admits remorse over hostel abuse

Courtney Trenwith

A former high school principal accused of dismissing as a lie a complaint of sexual abuse against the school's hostel warden - who was later found to have abused 11 boys - has agreed the victim was poorly treated by the school.

Ian Murray denied he protected Dennis John McKenna when allegations surfaced that he was abusing hostel boys, despite supporting him even after he was charged.

Mr Murray, who was principal of Katanning Senior High School from 1988 to 1990, claimed Todd Jefferis told him in late 1990 that he had been abused physically and emotionally but did not say it was of a sexual nature.

"If we had known fully that he was sexually abused [then you could say] he was treated badly and we should've done something about it," Mr Murray told a special inquiry examining St Andrew's Hostel in Katanning.

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The inquiry has heard Mr Jefferis, a Year 12 student at the time, was ostracised by the students and all but two of the teachers after he complained to Mr Murray of being sexually abused by McKenna.

McKenna is serving his second jail term for sexually abusing 11 boys while he was hostel warden between 1975 and 1990, when he was charged with sexually abusing Mr Jefferis.

Mr McKenna's brother Neil was earlier this month found guilty of abusing a student at the girls' wing of the hostel.

Mr Murray gave a glowing character reference during McKenna's first trial after the warden's lawyers paid for him to return to WA from the United Kingdom, where he moved at the end of 1990.

Mr Jefferis was one of the last victims and his complaint essentially brought to an end more than a decade of abuse by McKenna.

The inquiry is examining whether there was a cover-up, following allegations that several people in authority failed to act on complaints against McKenna.

It was extended today to also include Craig House in Bunbury and St Christopher's Hostel in Northam, after similar complaints were made to the inquiry.

Mr Jefferis and his mother claim that when they told Mr Murray of the sexual abuse he accused them of lying to get back at McKenna after several arguments.

One of the arguments was over Mr Jefferis being wrongly accused of and expelled for stealing money from the school canteen, a rumour initiated by McKenna.

Mr Murray said he did not act to end the rumours about Mr Jefferis because it would have flamed the situation as McKenna had greater kudos than him within the school.

During a meeting with Mr Jefferis and his step-mother Katherine Jefferis, he said Mrs Jefferis was angry and aggressive and demanded he confront McKenna, which he did not do.

He said did not understand the details of the allegation and denied he knew it was of a sexual nature.

Mr Murray claims he told the Jefferis's to go to the police because it was a criminal matter.

He does not remember a second meeting with Mr Jefferis and his step-mother, who claims Mr Murray allegedly responded that McKenna was "an outstanding community man" and the allegations could not be true.

Mr Murray told McKenna of the allegation but denied it was immediately after the first meeting with the Jefferis's despite evidence that Mr Jefferis was ridiculed by other students as soon as he returned to the hostel later that day.

Mr Murray also said he did not tell McKenna's lawyers of the accusations from Mrs Jefferis' accusations, who received a defamation letter.

He told the inquiry that he was "amazed" when he saw the letter.

Despite the hostel board knowing of its contents, the letter was never recorded in the board meeting minutes.

Mr Murray was board secretary and responsible for writing the minutes but told the inquiry he only wrote what the board chairman, then Garth Addis, told him to include. Mr Addis has since died.

Earlier during his evidence, Mr Murray told the inquiry he could not controlthe home environment of students, including those living at the boarding hostel.

However, he conceded that in his dual capacity as principal and board member he had a collective responsibility with the board for their wellbeing.

"I believe that the hostel was the students' home environment and I believe the [Country High Schools Hostel Authority] had given the hostel warden the tools to make the hostel a good home environment," he said.

"I didn't see the school as being able to interfere with the home environment of the hostel."

Mr Murray described McKenna as a "close colleague" but only a friend on a professional level.

He could not believe the allegations because of McKenna's high standing in the community.

He repeatedly said he had been duped by McKenna.

"I was totally and utterly conned by the man," he said.

"I supported him totally in his job as a warden because the evidence I saw [was that] he was doing an outstanding job."

Mr Murray's evidence continues today.

The inquiry before former Supreme Court Justice Peter Blaxell is due to report by July 18.